Bedstead, stretcher, and the like.



PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908.

F. WOO-D. BEDSTEAD, STRETCHER, AND THE LIKE.

APPLIGATIQN FILED JUNE 15, 1907.

4 SHEETSSHEET 1 PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908.

P. WOOD. BEDSTEAD, STRETGHER, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15, 1907.

4 SHEETS$HEET 2.

/ 1v vE/V To)? APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15, 1907.

WITNESSES PATENTED AUG. 18,' 1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

8 0 9 1 am 1 mm U A D. E T N E T A P R 0 0 W R 6 2 6 9 8 m N BEDSTEAD, STRETGHE R, AND THE LIKE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 15, 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

FREDERICK WOOD, OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

BEDSTEAD, STRETCHER, AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

.Patented Aug. 18, 1903.

Application filed June 15, 1907. Serial No. 379,189.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK WooD, a subject of the King of England, residing at Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bedsteads, Stretchers, and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to bedsteads, stretchers, and the like, of the folding or portable type and it has for its object and effect, to provide improvements in connection with same, by which they can be and are rendered lighter than those at present in use, and which also at the same time shall be strong, or stronger, and cap able ofbeing folded Very compactly and quickly; and, conversely, easily and very quickly spread out or unfolded and extended, and put into position for use.

The invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate it, and the several novel characteristics comprised under it, will be set out in the claiming clauses concluding the specification.

In these drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2 is a plan, and Fig. 3 is an end view of a bedstead in its unfolded or extend ed position, ready for use. Fig. 4 is a view showing the bedstead folded; Fig. 5 is a plan View showing in detail the construction of the end leg joints; and Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views showing the construction of the middle joint connection. Fig. 8 is a cross section showing the supporting fabric in position.

All the main parts of the bedstead are preferably tubes or tubular; but in some cases the rails and legs may be of suitable wood, or other suitable material.

Referring now to the drawings, a are the side rails, each of which is jointed at the center with a joint connecting piece or link I); 0 being the joint bolts or pins which pass through these oint pieces 6 and the rails a.

(Z are the legs supporting the side rails eat the ends; and e is a pair of intermediate legs connected with the joint connecting links I), and supporting the bedstead at the center.

The end legs are jointed to the ends of the side bars a by hinge oints, so arranged that they will fold inwards, practically in the same plane in which the side rails lie and these legs, and the center legs, are jointed together at a oint near their center longitudinally, enabhng the two sets of side rails to be drawn towards one another, and folded together.

The joint connecting the end legs (1 with the ends of the rails a consists of a lug f, provided on the inside of a cast cap terminal g, fitting over, and suitably secured to the end of the tubular rails a; while the legs (Z have a terminal cap fitting h-preferably a casting on each end, having jaws i, one of which comes on each side of the lug f, a pin being passed through both the lugs and. the jaw forming a hinge oint. The leg terminal caps h also'have a pair of jaws 7c on their ends, which are curved to the curvature of the caps g, and' so disposed, that when the legs are extended to the open position, the side rail terminals 9 will fit and lie in between them, and rest upon them so this fitting 7b constitutes a firm. and secure chair for the side rail ends to rest in and. upon.

The end legs d, and the parts connected with them, are so arranged and constructed that their feet will be outside the vertical planein which their upper ends or fittings h lie, as seen by Figs. 1 and 2; by which means, pressure, due to a person lying on the bed, tends to prevent the legs folding backwards, and general rigidity or firmness, and resistance of the bed against endwise movement, is afforded. To provide for this outward inclination of the legs, the bearing surface of the end cap fittings h will be so disposed in relation to the other parts that their axes will form an angle greater than a right angle, with the axes of the side rails.

The joints connecting the two sets of legs dand the legs e together, consist of tubular fittings, say light steel castings Z. They are slid over the legs; and a joint is effected by a pin m, say a'rivet, which passes through these tubular castings or fittings, they being provided with a slightly projecting boss both at the inside which form distance pieces between the two tubular castingsand on the outside.

The feet n of all the legs are simple castings, say of steel, closed at the ends, and fit ted and suitably fastened on the end of the legs; they being splayed out at the bottom, and cut at an angle, so that they rest flatly on the ground when the bed is spread.

With regard to the central connecting link joint part b, it is made saddle-shape, and say of pressed steel, and the joint belts or nuts or pins 0 which connect the ends with the side rails a, are disposed some distance within the ends. When the bed is unfolded and spread, and the weight comes upon it at the center, the thrust downwards is taken by the bolt joints 0, and the crown of the saddle piece 6 towards the ends; and the central legs 0 are made of such a length that when the bed is unfolded and in a position for use, their feet will be off the ground, say to the extent of half an inch. This construction tends to increase the outward endwise inclination of the end legs and their resistance to the movement or working of the bedstead endwise, when weight is upon it.

A hole 0 is provided in the top or crown of the saddle piece at each end, to enable the inner ends of the side rails awhich are closed by stoppers-to pass up through them when the bed is folded; at which times, as

shown in Fig. 4, the two members of the side rails a will be at about right angles to the link head or connecting part b.

The central legs a, at their upper ends, are provided with casting cap fittings p, which at the top are provided with lugs g, as shown (see Figs. 6 and 7) and each of these lugs is rigidly fastened to one of the side pieces 71. a. the outside--of the saddle connecting link I) by rivets or bolts 1"; and the caps p are provided with a shoulder at s, which abuts up against the edge of the saddle piece I), and. so forms therewith a rigid and secure fitting and attachment. Of course, the caps 29 are fastened onto their respective saddle link I), and at suitable points, so that the two legs lie in parallel vertical planes.

Each of the side rail cap fittings g has a hole u in its upper side at the end, and a socket v projecting downwards from and below the under side into which light rods w may be stepped, for carrying mosquito curtains.

The bed bottom or fabric on which the user lies is designated 90, and is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and in cross section in Fig. 8 and it may be of any suitable textile or other fabric. The fabric a: is made with tubular edgessee Fig. 8, within which lie the side rails a and connecting link joint parts I); and at these latter parts where the legs 6 come, the tubular edges of the fabric is provided with apertures, through which the legs a pass.

When the bedstead is unfolded and spread, the fabric 00 will be tight, and its width serves as a tie, holding the side rails a at the required distance apart. In use and action, the weight of the body on the bed tends to spread the legs wider apart, and the movement in this direction tends to move the side rails farther apart and hence the web or fabric a: is pulled laterally, making it taut from side to side.

In folding, the members of the side rails a i are moved so as to lie at right angles to the middle joint pieces b, and the legs at each end fold up inwards along and parallel with the side rails, the middle legs 0 remaining of course in their normal rigid position, which will be parallel with the legs (Z and side rails a, as indicated in Fig. 4. In the folding, the bottom fabric x will be found will fold in and up conveniently and compactly.

I am aware that folding bedsteads have had jointed side rails, with central connecting links, and with legs at their ends which fold up parallel with said side rails; and that the end legs of the folding bedsteads have been arranged to incline outwards from the points of their joints, and no claim per se is made to same hereunder.

What is claimed isrv 1. A folding bedstead comprising side rails, jointed at their central part, to a joint connecting piece or link, at which they are adapted to fold, and having at their ends, and connected to them by movable joints, crossed jointed legs adapted to fold up along or substantially parallel with the side rails; and intermediate crossed over legs connected rigidly to said central connecting joint links or parts; substantially as set forth.

2. In a folding bedstead the side tubes a having a tubular cap 9 fitting over their ends, in combination with tubular caps 7t fitting over the ends of tubular legs (1, said tubular caps being jointed together by hinge parts, as f, i, projecting towards each other from the sides of said caps; as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' FREDERICK WOOD.

Witnesses:

SOMERVILLE GooDALL, H. WATSON. 

